Toyota Racing Development puts its stamp on the updated Tacoma … and its MSRP

October 28, 2016

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Quick trivia question: What’s the best-selling vehicle in the state of Hawaii? Not the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry or even the Ford F-150; rather, it’s the midsize Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. It doesn’t take more than 10 minutes on Oahu or Maui to see that traffic is thick with Tacomas in much the same way Priuses ply Southern California freeways, and it helps explain why Toyota shipped us all the way here to test its latest truck.

We’re not here to drive just any Tacoma, though: The beefy Tacoma TRD Pro boasts more off-road capability than anyone save hillside cattle ranchers might need; it also comes at a higher price: nearly $41,000 for the manual-transmission model, and $43K for the six-speed automatic. Steep, yes, but considering the capability and extra equipment, if you’re a serious off-road enthusiast you probably get your money’s worth.

First, the basics: All Tacoma TRD Pros are double-cab short-bed trucks, and all come standard with a new 3.5-liter V6 engine, part-time four-wheel drive and a Class IV towing package. The TRD crew then adds special Fox internal-bypass shocks front and rear, along with retuned springs. A stainless cat-back exhaust gives this Tacoma a nice V6 growl, and 16-inch black alloy wheels with Goodyear Kevlar-reinforced tires help add to the aggressive makeover.

In addition to the wheel/tire package, the TRD Pro is gussied up with a blacked-out hood scoop, black-bezel headlights, taillights and fenders and the requisite badging. A quarter-inch aluminum front skid plate helps protect vital engine and suspension parts, and Rigid LED fog lights in a special fascia round out the front end. Three exterior colors are available: cement (a sort of primer gray), white and red metallic.

Given the price, the TRD Pro gets a suitably upgraded interior with black leather-trimmed heated front seats and a leather-wrapped wheel. Toyota’s top-shelf Entune touchscreen nav/hands-free audio system is included, and a display in the instrument cluster provides an inclinometer and tilt gauge. TRD Pro badges make an appearance on headrests and floormats, and a power-sliding rear window comes standard, as does the Tacoma-unique integrated GoPro camera mount at the top of the windshield. Overall, the materials and design give a sense of upscale functionality -- the Tacoma TRD Pro cockpit never coddles but it doesn't come across as cheap either.

Tacoma TRD Pro models get a quarter-inch aluminum underbody plate to help protect vital parts; there's also a trapdoor to facilitate oil changes.

What's it like to drive?

Save for 50 feet of asphalt driveway, our full-day ride-and-drive took place off paved roads around the Hana Ranch on the island of Maui -- if you’re curious about freeway ride quality or road noise at 70 mph, well … so are we. That said, the 2017 Tacoma gets a fresh engine and transmission combo with much more refinement than the downright agricultural powertrain in earlier models, so expect even the TRD Pro to be a comfortable cruiser.

Besides, Toyota figures buyers aren't paying a premium for the TRD Pro’s highway manners: It’s in the mud (or sand, or crushed pumice) where this truck is designed to thrive. We tested both automatic- and manual-transmission Tacoma TRD Pros and can say there’s a lot to like with each of them. The choice comes down to cost and experience level, in addition to convenience.

This is a lot of fun...

On the stick-shift side, the Tacoma’s new manual is a gem with nicely spaced ratios and a lovely shift feel. Manual models also get an electronic locking rear diff with A-TRAC brake traction control to help get through serious terrain. That said, the manual Tacoma simply can’t do some of the things the automatic truck -- with its throttle- and brake-modulating Crawl Control -- is capable of. In a further sign of the times, the 6MT also gets significantly lower fuel economy.

Those leaning toward the automatic don’t sacrifice anything; in the few instances where it wanted a different gear than we did, the manual shifting functions worked quickly and held gears for massive dirt roostertails and mud drifting when requested. Then there’s that killer app -- Crawl Control, a low-speed cruise control that lets the driver push a button then simply steer over pretty much anything that won’t rip the undercarriage out. Some of you Rubicon vets may scoff and claim you can do just as well with locking axles, but you can’t: With the ability to control torque delivered to individual wheels multiple times a second, Crawl Control can perform functions humans can't. Those arguing it makes a bad driver look good may have a point, but if you think you can do better you’re fooling yourself.

Easy does it, and the Tacoma TRD Pro's crawl model is easy.

Do I want one?

How much image and capability are you willing to pay for? That the Tacoma TRD Pro is an insanely competent off-road machine is beyond dispute, but the several thousand dollar price premium over a Tacoma TRD Off-Road (or even just a 4WD SR5) is going to limit sales to only the most XTREME! buyers (or wealthy kids who want to look XTREME!). Toyota knows it’s a niche product -- the Tacoma TRD Pro exists as a flagship compact truck that’ll sell in limited volumes to Tacoma devotees.

They’ll love it, Hawaiian or not.

Andrew Stoy
- Digital editor Andrew Stoy has spent the past 20 years wrenching on and writing about cars. He's worked everywhere from dealer service bays to the headquarters of the world's largest automakers.
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